# How is trump still a viable candidate for president? Really, how? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 12, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949 "2023-05-12T14:28:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/524 "2023-09-12T21:24:16Z")
…Coned? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/525 "2023-09-12T21:31:58Z")
[![](https://post.bark.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5-2.jpg) ](https://post.bark.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5-2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/526 "2023-09-12T22:09:54Z")
Ha, yeah, I miss-spelled. One thing that I’ll gladly admit I’m bad at. Trump should be told that the Elizabethan collar is what royalty used to where. Then snap one on him. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/527 "2023-09-13T19:41:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > But Mr. Collins saw the light, so others are waking up too. I hope they hurry up about it. As part of his rehabilitation while incarcerated, Collins probably underwent psychological counseling where he was encouraged to explore the underlying thought processes that led him on the path to prison. So he may have been primed for self introspection. Unfortunately only a slim minority of Trump supporters will be forced to undergo the same introspection. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/528 "2023-09-13T20:03:56Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Unfortunately only a slim minority of Trump supporters will be forced to undergo the same introspection. We need to round them up and send them to re-education camps. 🤡 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/529 "2023-09-13T22:42:12Z")
That implies they were ever educated… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/530 "2023-09-14T02:18:07Z")
They went to the University of Life ™️. And got a graduate degree from Trump University (and Neckwear Merchants). ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/531 "2023-09-14T12:33:56Z")
The main reason is that our Constitution is a sort of minimalist work. The federal government was designed to be minimalist. It was closer to what the right sees it as now than what it has evolved to. However, the founding fathers did think ahead and carefully laid out the future in the form of amendments. With the amendments, the current massive government with the million or so workers is still within the limits. The problem there is that there is no clear indication how these departments would be independent of the president. Some are, like the treasury. But basically the president could fire all cabinets and start from scratch. And Trump will do that if elected. In summary, our Constitution allows all this, as it is written on the back of…not one but a dozen envelopes. A sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/532 "2023-09-14T14:14:50Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > But he has tens of millions of rubes showering him with gold every day. _snicker_ ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/533 "2023-09-15T00:44:12Z")
The founders also naively assumed that there might be politicing, back biting and in fighting, by and large the majority of law makers would be good an honest people because if they were obviously corrupt then the people wouldn’t elect them. The idea that in a majority of the states the majority of the people would prefer a morally corrupt individual did not figure into their calculus. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/534 "2023-09-15T10:55:01Z")
Except that impeachment was included. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/535 "2023-09-15T11:16:36Z")
This is one of the reasons I’d love a time machine. I’d genuinely love to hear their reactions and answers to these questions. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/536 "2023-09-15T12:34:35Z")
> [@TeroSunbear](#): > > Except that impeachment was included Again, because they > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > assumed that … by and large the majority of law makers would be good an honest people …who’d act to cast from among themselves someone egregiously unfit to be in their company. (BTW consistent with how the founders did not mean for the bulk of the common rabble to control who was in office.) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/537 "2023-09-15T16:01:20Z")
Exactly. They were prepared for the idea that a corrupt individual might sneak in to power and need to be removed but assumed that at half the house and 2/3 of the senate would have the best interests of the country at heart. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/538 "2023-09-17T15:39:22Z")
[This Meet the Press interview summary](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/11-top-moments-trump-meet-press-interview-kristen-welker-rcna105333) gives another possible answer to the thread topic — Trump knows how to play a policy moderate when on TV. Consider: > [@](#): > > Trump said members of his own party “speak very inarticulately” about abortion, and he criticized those who push for abortion bans without exceptions in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the health of the mother. > > “I watch some of them without the exceptions, et cetera, et cetera,” he said. “I said, ‘Other than certain parts of the country, you can’t — you’re not going to win on this issue. But you will win on this issue when you come up with the right number of weeks. . . . > > We’re going to agree to a number of weeks or months . . . And: > [@](#): > > Asked if he would push for a deal that allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep Ukrainian territory, Trump said, “no, no, no, no.” And even, despite statements he has made at rallies: > [@](#): > > Welker asked Trump point blank if there was any scenario in which he would seek a third term should he win next fall. > > “No,” Trump said, before criticizing DeSantis. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/539 "2023-09-17T16:01:32Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > rump knows how to play a policy moderate when on TV. I’d restate that as trump occasionally plays a moderate on TV for a couple of sentences. Which certain apologists can trot out repeatedly as evidence that this part of his oerve is genuine policy wisdom and the other 95% of trump’s drivel is mere populist rhetoric of no meaning or consequence. The apologists also content that trump is fully aware of the difference and operates behind the scenes according only to the first stuff. Color me “not buying that”. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/540 "2023-09-17T16:23:11Z")
Moderating: Due to the way you phrased your restatement, I’m going to assume the omission you made to @PhillyGuy’s quote above was a typo and not a deliberate slur. Nevertheless, please be careful to not modify the quotes of another poster, even inadvertently. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/541 "2023-09-17T16:34:24Z")
I couldn’t count the number of times I have inadvertently clipped the first letter off of a quote, not always catching it on proofreading. I blame Discourse. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/542 "2023-09-17T16:37:24Z")
I know. Me, too. Nor is @LSLGuy someone with a reputation for trying to slip slurs past staff. I’m just mentioning it in the hope posters will take a moment to review their posts for unfortunate typos before hitting the ‘Reply’ button. Quote modification is a hard line rule here. Think of it as me “flag-proofing” a post. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/543 "2023-09-17T16:43:51Z")
My apologies to both @PhillyGuy and the board in general. Me dropping the “T” from the front of my partial quote of @PhillyGuy’s writing was 100% inadvertent. But also unacceptably careless. And thank you for the gentle moderation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=28)